Getting near that time
Where minds begin
To wander
Stores are closed
Lights are dimming
Noises settle down
Words come flowing
Making sense or not
From a day
That " s drawing to
A close
Factories shut down
But words keep dancing
Round and round
Eyes blink yet
Never close
Sleep too far away
Nothing else to do
To chase those
Thoughts away

I take a breath
And breathe in
The morning sound
Of geese honking
With their peers
Watching wet snow
Melting on the ground
I listen as morning
Conversation begins
And hot tea
With milk of course
Awakens me
Won't think of the
News announcing
More dead bodies
And crying souls
And wondering
Why it's so
Hard to put on
A mask
And keep the
Distance
Nor wonder about
The future
Instead I'll say
A silent prayer
For all lives lost
Through hate
And sickness
And natural causes
And love
And resolve to
Lead a Life
Good enough
For one more breath

I listen all around
As nature awakens
The early morning
Silence
The happy sound
Of a gull
Soaring overhead
Enjoying the moment
Fish hiding from
Their captors
Waves dancing in song
Birds in trees
Answering their
Mate's  call
Last of leaves
Spiraling toward
The ground
Dried grass
Bristling
Sound of a runner's shoe
Quietly hitting the
Well worn path
Who needs change
Silence is golden

Gracefully the cat
Circled around its'
Owners' legs
Purring louder
To be held
And stroked
Gently down her spine
Having been satisfied
A sip of milk
Upon sandpaper lips
Would do
A spot in the
Warm sun
Would do nicely
And a dream
Of catching a mouse
Even better

Four seasons to watch
Experience the rhythm
That each one will bring

Words upon words
Racing around
My head
Ready to write
Words get caught
In the dust of
A poetic limbo
Where nothing
Can be
Found

The trees are bare
Having lost her
Garment of
Colored leaves
White glistening snow
Will soon
Be here to cover
Her up

I write of sun and birds
And sky
That's all
I see
I write of people and tears
And joy
That's all
I feel
I write of hot chocolate and tea
And bread
That's all I  taste
I write of shouting and screaming
And laughter
That's all
I hear
I write of what I see
Real or imagined

Coke was your drink
To chase the demons
Cure the blues
Stop a reaction
Sip
      .by
.           . Sip
Gulp
          by
                 Gulp
Whatever the occasion
Now that you are gone
Let's take a sip
And bow our heads

I can pen away
Any time of day or night
Someone else is out there

Alone in the dark
Gathering up thoughts before
Alone in the light

What gift will I bring
To a king lying in hay
The gift of myself

Continuing dreams
Awaken me from my sleep
Did that just happen

Start day in color
Splashes of pinks and yellows
End in charcoal grey

Yesterday the lights
From Santa's reindeer
Twinkled in the
Grey morning light
Today as I pass by
The reindeer is gone
Till another year
Sometimes. I feel
Like my lights
Sparkle
And other times
They are dim
I should dispel
Any darkness
And let the
Light shine in

Breathe in and breathe out
Aware of life all around
And life from within

A New star
Fills the sky
Shining in
The distance
Bright at first
Reaching its
Destination
Watching over
Me
Reminding me
Of days
Gone by
So bright at first
But as healing
Takes place
Your light will
Dim with
All the other
Stars

Darkness fills my world
Like the murky swamp
Falling deeper and deeperl
Into the known
Lightness fills my world
Like the starlit night
Shining brighter and brighter
Into the known
Laughter fills my heart
Like the babbling brook
Bouncing smoother and smoother
Into the known
Love fills my heart
Like the universal song
Singing louder and  strong
Into the known
Hope fills my soul
Like  a heavenly beam
Shining brighter and  brighter
Into the known

Silence
Words in my various readings
So poetically I speak
In words of silence
Like the quiet sound
Of snow
Whispering her lullaby
Softly touching the ground
And silent fingers
Imprinted.upon the hand
That others might hear
Cooing sounds of baby
Discovering their toes
The whistling wind
Outside the frost stained glass
And the sound of soft sweet
Lips that can only come
From a mother's love
A father's  love as he kisses
Goodbye
A whistling kettle
Gentle slurps from tea
Angel dust all.around
To keep this moment
Of silence

Counting the hours
When I will see you again
For all Eternity

The sky puts on
A show
Free admission
For those who
Look up
Soft clouds of tutu pink
And cottoncandy blue
And the sun
Banana yellow
With aquarium blue
Backdrop
The sight is
Astounding
Come back tomorrow
A new day full
Of surprise

Pale pinks and lavenders
In the snowy evening sky
Leaving shadows of
Brillance
On the.snow covered
Ground

Pale in nature
Basking in the morning light
Bringing peace to me

Was anxious to write
Tripped over my very words
There's nothing to show

Poetry
The lava in
My soul
Ready to erupt
Cannot be contained
Any longer
Like lightning bugs
In a jar
Dimly blinking
In a jar
Until their lights
Went out

Feverishly i write
In the moon
Of night
Word upon word
Pile upon pile
Of wasted
Crumpled words
I ask you to critique them
You thought they
Were
Words of love
Meant only
For you
When all it was
Was a poem

All I did was stare
When you quickly walked by me
And left me alone

Life is all around
Skies above and earth below
Blessings in between

Children dress up
Like unicorns
Write about them
Dream about them
Draw picture upon
Picture
Color and paint
Perhaps as an
Adult
We can connect
With our
Inner child
And search for
A unicorn


.

As you lay helpless
Upon the hardened concrete
Let me be of use

Light shadows
Dancing in the wind
Warming in the sun
Sunny figures
Dancing on the
Ground
Shadows disappearing
As the sun
Fades away

I turn around
And see you
With your warm smile .
Your love and laughter fill the air.
It cannot echo back
For you are no longer around,
But in Spirit.
Let me get a glimpse of you
While my tears trickle down
Drop by drop
Upon my aching heart.
The memories are sweet
Just not to the touch.
But  forever in my heart
You shall burn .

Son so full
Of warmth
Waking me early
Warming my heart
You are my constant
Behind the clouds
You peek
Checking me out
While I am checking
You out

You that I pray for
In the darkness of my room
And the star lit sky

Rain
What are you
Trying to say
As you
D
   R
  .....I
          P
               D
                  .R
        ...............I
                ..........P
Down my window
Are these tears
Of yesteryear
That have
Never
Dried out
And need to be
Released
Let them fall
Let them fall
To wash away
And bring
New Birth

I look out the
Window of my soul
There i see you
Freezing in the.cold
Tattered blankets nearby
While others join
The.neverending
Line for food
Some women grabbing
Another ice pack
For the bruises to
Go Away
For some the food
From.yesterday's trash
Seems.like a good dinner
Empty pockets
Another day without
A dollar
A baby lying
By the trash
And a bony dog
Sniffing their remains
Sniffing their remains
Perhaps I should
Open the door
Of my heart
And go outside
And do something

She walked into
The cold winter day
Saw ice snapping
Off frozen branches
On hearing them
Crackle to the
Icyground
She realized she
Wasn't far behind

I want to reach the
Midnight sky
Pull a star down
To put in my room
To lighten up
The darkness

Thinking of Thanks
Giving of hearts
Remembering
Counting blessings
Received
And Given
People here
And gone
Loved
Thanks
Giving

I don't  have the
Words I want to
Say to.you
So.I'll.put them
In a song
With the chorus
Repeating.of
Sorrow and
Pain
Happiness and
Joy
A chorus so strong
You will want
To sing
Over
      And
        ..Over
Again

Blue heron on
Icy lake
Walking on thin water
Passerby says
Made me think
How often I
Walk on thin water
The difference
The heron
Stayed for a few moments
And gracefully
Flew away
I on the other hand
Walk on thin ice
And fall in
With baggage
I carry

Just keep it coming
And than you want to know why
How did it happen

Crumbs on my napkin
Surround my thoughts and my dreams
In the trash you go

Her hands for many things
Embracing her children
Patching up boo boos
Carrying shopping bags
Cooking for others
Pushing her cart
Picking out vegetables
Folding her hands
So lovingly in prayer
The rosary she held
So tight in her hands
As the beads slipped gracefully
At each Hail  Mary
And now she's in Heaven
Where she can see Mary

You were so good  to me
When no one else was
You took me for who i was
Though it wasn't much
You laughed at my
Jokes
When others just stared
And guided me
When there was no
Light to follow
Saying it would
Be okay
When you knew
It was not
Drying up tears
Picking me up
Again and again
You never let me down
But then
You never were

A robe of many colors
Kept you warm.when
You were sick.
You didn't have to tell.us
But quietly put it on.
Trying to hide the pain
Trying to make us laugh
When you hurt so bad.
I liked when you wore your
Jeans and.shirt
Knowing you.felt well.
Now you are gone
And I wear your love
In.my heart

The clouds are faded purple
Moisture is in the air
But the breeze so gentle
Whispers crost my cheek
Birds are flying
Squirrels tagging
Feels like it's gonna rain
Hope it pours down buckets
To water the earth
And cleanse my soul

For the New Year


I wish you..


A pen of ink
That never
Stops flowing
Paper in abundance
A trashcan nearby
A dictionary.and thesaurus
And poetry nearby
A clear head
To focus
Memories soft
And warm
Experiences to write
About
New people to meet
And places to go
And love continuing
To grow
And when you go
To bed at night
Know you are loved
From above

A warm wish to you
And yours
Happy New Year

Wrinkled and worn
Cavities of tears long ago
Withered from pain
Yet softened from
Memories gone by
A tell-tale face
With Nothing to hide
And everything to see
So old and painful
With glimpses of
A sorrowing past
And yet high-lights
Of once sunny days
Makeup can't cover
Rouge looks phoney
Hold your head high
And show your face

You whittled away
My hopes my dreams and my joy
Leaving the remains